Black

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of attending the press conference of the Black AIDS Institute, where they spoke about their most recent publication release entitled "Left Behind".

It is a perfectly ironic title for how I felt sitting in the audience as a gay black man living with HIV. While I am honestly extremely happy about "my people" coming together and issuing a call for; "a national AIDS strategy equivalent of PEPFAR", "An investment of 1.3 Billion in National Prevention programs", "Needle Exchange Programs", "Testing 1 Million people" and "support for traditional Black Institutions". While there are many issues I have with the "Left Behind," and the press conference itself it is the last that I will focus on in this blog.

I deeply agree that federal support for Black Institutions must be increased in order to have an impact on the devastation that is happening in the Black community. An issue that was not covered yesterday, however, is the work that Black Institutions must do.

In both the press conference yesterday, and in many of the institutions I come into contact with, the conversation around GAY Black Men is limited and in some cases none exsitent.  read more »

So as I sit and stare at my suitcase wondering what to put it into it, I am a ball of emotions about the impending week. I thought I would take a moment and blog about it...(bare with me).

Besides the normal freak out of not wanting to forget anything like tickets, passport and tolietries. I am a ball of excitement about all the potential learning experiences I will have in the next week. I find myself energized, nervous and sometimes crazed in my head. As I began my packing experience tho I decided to give myself a quick pedicure just to take the edge off. Normaily I would just rub the dead skin away, clip the ends and leave it at that, but today feels different so I decided to choose a color to go on the nails. I choose Black today, not only because it was available in my home but as I am feeling symbolically it adds the sentiment that I am searching for.

Often when I think about the AIDS crisis, I become overwhelmed and wonder if things will ever be alright for the millions of folks living with the disease. At conferences such as IAC, I usually get inspiration from my fellow PWHAs and they let me know that things will turn out alright. Although there are what seem like insurmountable odds against us; the faint laugh, the contentious moment always seem to bring me back to a middle ground and a feeling of calm.  read more »

I applaud the Black AIDS Institute for its release today of "Left Behind: Black America: a Neglected Priority in the Global AIDS Epidemic" (http://www.blackaids.org/image_uploads/article_575/08_left_behind.pdf) I have not had the chance to fully go through the document but I wanted to respond to some interesting trends that popped out at me from my quick overview. This is in no way an attack or an accusation to any group or entity, but more my feelings as a Gay HIV+ Black Man living in America.

Let me first state that I find the study's usuage of Black America as a separate country to be compelling and a very on-the-mark breakdown of how we should be looking at the epidemic in Black America and the US government's response (or lack there of). I agree with the study that the response of the US government has been deplorable and the lack of a comprehensive AIDS plan is despicable while they laud the accomplishments abroad through PEPFAR.

One thing I must take issue with is a portion of blame not being placed on Black America itself. While the US government certainly has its devils and demons that need dealing with, I can't help but wonder about the role of Black Americans ourselves, particularly as it applies to Black Gay Men. Not to issue "Cosbyisms" or more recently "Obamaisms" but it is my feeling that within Black America we have our sh*t to deal with as well.  read more »